FALL 2013 SHOW LINE-UP

My Fall show schedule is here! I would have posted it sooner but between running my own massage practice and working in the studio, I have been busy working 10 hour days to build up my inventory. I had forgotten what a great Spring season I had that nearly wiped out my jewelry inventory and silly me slacked off over the summer. So without further adieu, I hope you will stop by my booth at one of these upcoming shows.

•GALLERY EXHIBIT AT FIRST UU

1000 Blanton Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221

CURRENTLY RUNNING from Sept. 25 - 29

Free and open to the public - check out handmade jewelry, scarves, paintings, pottery and more - all made by local artists.

•ARTS AROUND THE LAKE 

University of Richmond Campus

28 Westhampton Way
Richmond, VA 23229

 Sunday, Sept. 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  

•ARTS ON THE GROVE 

7th Street Christian Church

4101 Grove Ave, Richmond, VA 23221

 Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

•STOCKLEY GARDENS FALL FESTIVAL

Held at Stockley Gardens Park in the Ghent section of Norfolk, VA 

Sat., Oct. 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. & Sun., Oct. 20 from noon to 5:00 p.m. 

•ART BAZAAR at SOUTHAMPTON BAPTIST CHURCH 

7521 Comanche Drive, Richmond, VA 23225-1141 

Saturday, Nov. 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Reticulated and Recycled Silver

It's been a while since I played with reticulation silver. Reticulation silver is a combination of sterling and copper so that when you heat the metal, the different melting points of sterling and copper create a tiny network of wrinkles in the surface of the metal. I like to layer the reticulation silver with little melted beads of recycled sterling silver that I heat fuse to the surface.

sterling silver, reticulation silver, blue chalcedony, and patina

I had forgotten how much I like the effect until I recently saw one of my customers wearing this one-of-a-kind ring that I had created for her in 2010. It's actually one of my favorite pieces to date!

Last week, I created a handful of new pendants and earrings using the reticulation technique. Some of the pendants already sold at the Arts Around the Lake show at the University of Richmond last Sunday, but the remainder will be available this weekend at Occasion for the Arts show in Williamsburg, VA.

I hope you can make it to the show!

SUNDAY IN THE PARK

I will be exhibiting the full collection of my jewelry this Sunday at Forest Hill Park in Richmond,VA from Noon to 5:00 p.m. Hope you can make it out for:

Featuring:

 Live music; 

RVA Hoop Lovers & hula hoops; 

Yummy food, including free treats and ice cream for kids (while supplies last); 

Police, Fire and Sheriff' equipment displays; 

The famous Bike Rodeo by RCOP complete with giveaways; 

Children's activities including a moon bounce, crafts, games, magicians, Jonathan the Juggler, story telling and puppets;

 Tree climbing with Tru-Timber;

Richmond Raiders and Risky the mascot visiting and selling game tickets; 

Bruiser Wrestling Federation;

Environmental displays, programs and activities;

Urban Chicken display and educational outreach;

Nature walks, history & trolley car display, Stone House tours;

Catch and release fishing at the lake;

 and fabulous art/craft and specialty vendors. 

Whew, where else are you going to find all that in a lovely outdoor setting for FREE! 

See you there.

SHOW SCHEDULE for SPRING 2012

With my first 2012 Art Festival right around the corner (this Saturday), I thought I'd better list my Spring show line-up. All shows are held outdoors - rain or shine. Hope to see you there!

 UPCOMING SHOWS:

Fool for Art at John Tyler Community College
Saturday, April 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
800 Charter Colony Parkway
Midlothian, VA

Sunday in the Park with Friends 
Sunday, April 29 from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Forest Hill Park in Richmond, VA

Stockley Gardens Art Festival  
Saturday, May 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. &
 Sunday, May 20 from noon to 6:00 p.m.
Stockley Gardens Park, located off Olney Road in the Ghent section of Norfolk, VA

This year I will not be participating in any summer shows, but I'll be back for a few favorites in the Fall. And remember you can always find a selection of my handmade jewelry at Dream Spiral Art on Etsy and at GlassBoat in Carytown. 

Here's a sneak peak of some brand new earrings that will be available this Saturday at Fool for Art.

Beads are back! Paired with a careful selection of gemstones and pearls, braided sterling silver hoops shine in these dangly handmade earrings.

Last Show for 2011

It's been a great round of shows for Dream Spiral Art this year. But as the saying goes "All good things must come to an end." I will exhibit at my final show in 2011 next weekend. 

I am excited to announce that I will be displaying my work at Gallery5 (a non-profit art gallery that is part of the Richmond, VA First Friday circuit downtown). The show begins during first Friday on December 2, and runs from 6 - 10 p.m. If you prefer to avoid the crowd, be sure to stop in on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

There will be a number of local artists selling their wares both days. It will be a great place to load up on stocking stuffers and holiday gifts, while supporting artists and small business owners in the RVA community.

What's more? A portion of my proceeds will be donated to this dynamic gallery to support their mission: to facilitate and inspire creativity in our region.

Do I hear a Who-Who?

Sign of the Times or Just Bad Timing?

It’s that busy time of year again when the weather turns cool and the fall show season runs hot for Dream Spiral Art Jewelry. I just had my first two shows of the fall season – Arts Around the Lake (one of my favorite local shows, held at the University of Richmond campus) and Arts on the Grove (a sweet, little show hosted by the 7th Street Christian Church on Grove Ave).

All in all the first two shows were a great success. My only lament is that almost $300 worth of jewelry was stolen during these two shows. One of the “taken ones” was a one of a kind ring that I cast in recycled silver and set with a faceted ruby.

Have you seen me? I am one of a kind and I’m missing.

Missing. Last of my kind.

I was part of a limited Dream Spiral Art edition.

I was stolen, too.

Limited Edition Ring. Now there is only 1 left.

Stealing is wrong, no matter how you rationalize it. But it makes me very sad that someone would steal from an artist.

Each of the tiny treasures that I create holds a tendril of my soul. I design and fabricate each piece of jewelry from beginning to end, nurturing an idea from seed to tree. Everything is created by hand. I use only high quality materials, recycling metal whenever possible. There is integrity in my work. Most of my pieces require hours of labor to perfect and produce – there is usually sweat and aching forearms, sometimes blood when my jeweler’s saw slips from metal into flesh.

When you purchase a piece of jewelry from me, you are purchasing a piece of my story, a piece of my heart and soul, hammered into a precious metal keepsake. That is the journey of handmade.

Mine is a labor of love.

It is also how I keep food on the table, clothes on my back, and heating oil in the ravenous furnace at this old farmhouse.

I love doing shows because I have the opportunity to meet and form face to face connections with my lovely clients, to whom I am eternally grateful. I also love selling online in my Etsy Store as it provides me the opportunity to connect with people across the globe and to sell year round, day or night, regardless of weather. However, in the last 2 years, I have experienced more theft at shows than I did in my first 10 years combined. Is the increase in theft a sign of the times or just bad timing?